This post will tell you everything you need to know about the best things to do in Liguria for an amazing trip in Northern Italy.
Also known as the Italian Riviera, Liguria is a wonderful, picturesque coast region in the northwestern part of Italy. Its stylish resorts and colorful villages are a perfect holiday destination, whether you are looking for a relaxing vacation at the beach or a hiking adventure. Liguria has it all.
As we love Italy so much, we keep coming back here year after year, and Liguria is one of our favorite places to explore.
There are so many great things to do in this Italian region, but I’ve summarised here for you the BEST ones so you can make the most out of your trip to Liguria.
5 Amazing Things To Do In Liguria, Italy
1. Visit Cinque Terre
I’m pretty sure you’ve already seen this place all over your Instagram feed, MANY times.
Cinque Terre is a group of 5 gorgeous coastal villages at the Liguria Sea: Vernazza, Monterosso, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. You will be stunned by the beautiful colored buildings, bordering the cliffs and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
They are all located close to each other and easily connected by train (or a hiking trail if you’re feeling brave), so planning 3 days to visit them all should be enough. If that’s too much and you only have 1 day to spend here, choose Monterosso, and Manarola. You won’t regret it.
2. Visit Portofino, Liguria
Oh, you are SO going to love Portofino! This stylish little resort is Liguria (and Italy) at its best: stunning views of the Mediterranean coast, colorful old buildings, and gorgeous villas. It reminded me a little bit of Positano and that Amalfi Coast vibe.
Similar to Amalfi, Portofino is also a celebrities favorite holiday destination. Kylie Minogue and Avril Lavigne and known to be regulars in this area.
Some of the best things to do here are:
- walk along the port, have a coffee or lunch at one of the many restaurants in the centre
- go up the hill to St. George Church for some stunning views of the village from above
- go even higher to see the Portofino Lighthouse (the Faro di Portofino) – it is quite a walk so count at least 30-45 minutes for this.
PRO TIP: try to plan your trip in spring or autumn, as that’s the best time to visit Portofino. If you happen to visit during summer, as we did last year in July, AVOID WEEKENDS.
Portofino gets incredibly busy during summer weekends, especially if there are events going on. Traffic is completely crazy and you might not be able to reach the city as the Police might stop the entrance of extra cars.
This is exactly what happened to us. We had to park our car in the city nearby and take a taxi to Portofino. The charge was 50 EUR for what would normally be a 10 minutes drive (which would cost around 15 EUR).
Also, be prepared that not many Italians speak English here (at least from our experience) so I often had to use my basic Italian skills to communicate. They were lovely though and fair as they informed us upfront on what the taxi fare would be.
3. Walk along the Coast to Santa Margherita Ligure
A truly spectacular and one of the best things to do in Liguria is to walk along the Mediterranean coast. There is a pedestrian sidewalk from Portofino (almost) all the way to Santa Margherita Ligure, the closest village nearby.
The views are stunning and you will pass some famous beaches along the way: Baia Cannone and Baia di Paraggi.
Santa Margherita Ligure is also a beautiful Italian village to explore, with colorful buildings, a nice little port, and lots of cafes and restaurants.
4. Enjoy the sun & beach in Moneglia
Moneglia is a little Italian village and beach resort at the Ligurian sea, perfect for a couple of days of relaxation.
Recently added to the list “I borghi più belli d’Italia” (Italy’s prettiest villages), it has lots to offer. From beautiful long beaches, old, medieval buildings and great restaurants, you’ll find everything here.
Moneglia lies only 50km from Genoa. It is therefore the perfect base for exploring Liguria being relatively close to the other main touristic attractions.
We chose Moneglia to spend a couple of days here last July and had a wonderful time.
(You might also want to check out 10 Essential Travel Tips for Your First Visit to Italy)
5. Visit Genoa, capital of Liguria
Genoa is the capital city of Liguria and the biggest seaport of Italy.
It is the best connection if you’re looking to head straight into Portofino. But it will be worth visiting the city as well.
Walk along the streets of the old center, visit the Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the beautiful square, Piazza di Ferrari.
I hope you have enjoyed my list of the best things to do in Liguria and hope it inspired your next trip to Italy!
Happy travels! 🙂
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